Everything You Should Know About Nonsurgical Skin Tightening

A wide range of skin tightening methods exist in the broader cosmetic market, and it can be difficult to tell each apart. Before deciding on a treatment, learning what causes skin to lose its elasticity is essential. 

Collagen and elastin are two proteins that make our skin firm and smooth. As we age, we create less collagen and elastin, leading to drooping, crepey skin on the face, neck, and other body parts. Various methods, from creams to non-surgical skin tightening to fully invasive lift procedures, can restore firmer, younger-looking skin by promoting collagen and elastin synthesis. A general rule is that the less invasive the treatment, the less downtime you will incur. Still, this can also mean results will be less lasting or dramatic than more surgical methods. 

Non-Surgical Skin Tightening, Defined

Non-surgical skin tightening methods employ non-invasive devices that deliver energy like heat or radiofrequency waves to the skin's deeper layers, prompting existing collagen fibers to contract or pull in. The heat also stimulates the body's healing process, producing new collagen and gradually improving moderately loose or sagging skin's tone, texture, and firmness. Some non-surgical skin tightening treatments are also designed to target cellulite.

It is essential to differentiate non-surgical skin tightening from minimally invasive methods. The former does not require incisions on the skin, as everything is done from above the surface. As a result, less pain and downtime are involved, but results may not be as dramatic. 

Minimally invasive methods do create small incisions through which skin will be tightened. These approaches are less surgical than a fully invasive treatment like tummy tucks or arm lifts. 

Pros and Cons of Non-Surgical Skin Tightening

Non-surgical skin tightening procedures are a decent option for patients who want to provide their face, neck, arms, buttocks, or abdomen with a renewed aesthetic without recurring into invasive cosmetic surgery such as the facelift or tummy tuck, or liposuction. 

That said, some benefits of non-surgical skin tightening are as follows:

1. Treatments can moderately tone loose skin without producing scarring.

2. The average time of completion for these procedures is an hour or less.

3. There's less inherent risk when undergoing a non-surgical procedure because tissues are not punctured or there's no general anesthesia.

4. Results, while not permanent, can last for up to a year.

And, of course, non-surgical skin tightening has its limitations:

1. Most non-surgical treatments require multiple sessions to produce and maintain results.

2. Generally, results are only sometimes noticeable; they appear gradually over weeks or months.

3. These treatments are ineffective if severe skin laxity is present due to aging, pregnancy, or weight loss.

Popular Non-Surgical Skin Tightening Treatments

Ultrasound Therapy  

Ultrasound skin tightening, often known as a "mini facelift," is a procedure that heats the skin to 5 millimeters deep to stimulate collagen creation on the brow, chin, chest, and neck. Treatments are administered using FDA-cleared handheld devices that employ ultrasound imaging to target the precise layers of skin where therapy will be most effective.

Radiofrequency Treatments

Radiofrequency (RF) energy is applied to the skin using an FDA-cleared device to heat it and stimulate collagen formation in the epidermal layers on the face, neck, hands, and torso.

Laser Resurfacing  

A laser is used in non-ablative skin resurfacing to address wrinkles, scars, and age spots. Non-ablative lasers are often fractionated to deliver hyper-targeted heat via thousands of small columns known as microthermal zones, allowing the skin to heal more quickly.

Non-Surgical Skin Tightening Treatment Prices

Individual patient pricing for non-surgical skin tightening procedures will vary depending on the following factors:

• Geographical location

• The provider's expertise

• The operation that is being conducted

• The body part(s) on which the procedure is performed

• The number of treatments required to achieve the best results

The Costs of Ultrasound Therapy

The average cost of Ultherapy® is around $2,200 but can range up to $4,500 depending on the number of sessions and any treated locations other than the face, such as the neck.

The Costs of Radiofrequency Treatments

Pricing will range from $1,000 to $4,000 for one to five treatments, depending on the portion of the body being treated and the number of treatments required. For example, average pricing for the eyes could be $1,300, $2,000 for the face, and $3,000 to $4,000 for the abdomen or buttocks.

The Costs of Laser Resurfacing

The cost of non-ablative laser skin resurfacing costs $1,500 to $2,500.

Is Non-Surgical Skin Tightening The Optimal Approach?

While they may be less taxing in the short term, non-surgical skin tightening is not capable of providing lasting, customizable, or dramatic changes. Those needing a modest treatment for skin laxity may be satisfied, but most ultimately resort to other treatments afterward. 

Furthermore, patients who want to tighten their skin but also have excess fat will eventually become lax again due to progressive stretching. 

Patients that want to ensure holistic results regardless of their conditions can find everything they need with AirSculpt® +, our patented procedure designed to remove fat and tighten skin, all in one session.

AirSculpt® procedures are known for permanently removing fat in a minimally invasive setting, without general anesthesia, scalpels, stitches, or needles.

If the patients also need to treat their skin laxity, AirSculpt® + combines fat removal with Renuvion technology. Renuvion is a minimally invasive technique in which we apply helium-derived plasma and radiofrequency (RF) energy to the surface or subsurface of your skin.

When we apply it to your skin's surface, the RF radiation ablates the tissue. This resurfacing removes old and damaged skin cells, allowing for healthy growth. The energy also causes a collagen response in your tissue, which aids in skin tightening. 

This minimally invasive skin tightening treatment offers instant results that improve as swelling subsides. Everything is done through a two-millimeter-wide entry point, which is much less taxing than the large incisions made during a fully invasive lift.

Work With The Next Generation of Body Sculpting

AirSculpt® technology is proud to offer the next generation of body contouring.

If you want to achieve your body goals and get back to your daily life within two days, call one of our 25+ body contouring establishments worldwide to schedule your complimentary consultation.